Bring your auction to collectors worldwide!
Get listed nowBy subscribing, you are agreeing to the privacy policy. Unsubscribe anytime.
Barnebys HQ
Brahegatan 10
BOX 5038
114 37 Stockholm
All auctions / Arts & Graphics / Erik Jönsson Dahlbergh (XVII) - Thorunium – Primaria Prussiae Regal. Urbis …
Erik Jönsson Dahlbergh (1625–1703) „THORUNIUM – Primaria Prussiae Regal. Urbis …“ Nuremberg, 1696 Original large-format copperplate engraving from the late 17th century with an impressive bird’s-eye view of the fortified town of Thorn, today Toruń in Poland, during the military events of the Second Northern War. The representation originated from a drawing by the Swedish military engineer, architect and cartographer Erik Jönsson Dahlbergh and was published in Samuel von Pufendorf’s monumental historical work on King Charles X Gustav of Sweden. Comparison copies are attributed to the 1696 work De Rebus a Carolo Gustavo… published in Nuremberg by Christoph Riegel. Historical literature regards the sheet as Dahlbergh’s depiction of the Swedish capture of Thorn in 1655. In the center lies the strongly fortified town of Thorn/Toruń in a detailed bird’s-eye view. The star-shaped fortifications with bastions, ramparts and city gates, as well as individual buildings within the fortifications, are clearly recognizable. Beyond the town, the Vistula (Weichsel) runs and a broad landscape extends to the horizon. Particularly striking is the military scene in the foreground: large formations of infantry and cavalry are moving toward the city. Gun emplacements are depicted in action; smoke clouds over the fortifications emphasize the warfare. In the foreground is also the military staff with King Charles X Gustav of Sweden. This identification is also noted in a contemporary auction record of the same sheet. Above the town there is a large, richly decorated title cartouche with the heading “THORUNIUM.” The cartouche is framed by weapons, flags and further military trophies. The entire representation is additionally surrounded by an elaborately ornamental printed border. Thus, the sheet combines in an unusually decorative way a city view, a fortification representation and a military-historical event depiction. Sheet size: ca. 44 × 33 cm A documented comparative specimen is given with a representation of about 29.2 × 38 cm and a sheet format of about 35 × 44 cm. Technique Original copper engraving on paper No modern reprint and no reproduction. The clearly visible vertical center crease corresponds to the sheet’s original use as a folded illustration within the large-format work. Age-appropriate condition of a more than 300-year-old original sheet. The depiction is complete and overall clear, high-contrast and very detailed. The typical vertical center crease of the original binding is present. The paper shows age-toning as well as isolated stains, discolorations, minor creases and signs of wear. In the margin there are small tears or edge damages. At the bottom edge there are older handwritten collector-, price- or attribution marks. On the reverse, along the outer edges and partly in the area of the center crease, there are clearly visible traces or remnants of an earlier mounting or adhesions. There are also older handwritten notes and individual stains or discolorations. The mounting traces on the back do not significantly affect the actual depiction on the front. Broad paper margins are present. Please note the numerous photographs of the front and back as part of the condition description. . Bibliographic data Artist/Designer: Erik Jönsson Dahlbergh (1625–1703) Title: Thorunium – Primaria Prussiae Regal. Urbis … Subject: Thorn / Toruń, Poland Depicted event: The capture of Thorn by Swedish troops in 1655 Work: Samuel von Pufendorf, De Rebus a Carolo Gustavo... Place of publication: Nuremberg Publisher: Christoph Riegel Dating: 1696 Technique: Copper engraving Sheet size: ca. 44 × 33 cm The sheet is also bibliographically documented. A specialized Polish auction house lists the same depiction with reference to B. Heyduk, Dahlbergh w Polsce, Wrocław 1971, p. 187, no. 91. An extremely detailed and decorative original print from the 17th century with particular interest for collectors of historical city views, Poland/Prussia, Toruń, military history, fortification construction and historical cartography.
Estimate:£127.16
To the auctionView all items fromCatawikiorArts & Graphics
Estimate:
£127.16
STANISLAW ZOLADZ. Interiör med bl.a. kaffekanna, signerad, daterad
10/06/2026
£37.84
Est: £113.04
BJÖRN AUREBEKK. Sittande kvinna, litografi, signerad och numrerad 50/99.
10/06/2026
£22.7
Est: £37.68
OCT 17 | 10:00 PM
Bring your auction to collectors worldwide!
Get listed now
